A US federal judge has blocked a Trump administration policy that suspended immigrant visa issuance to citizens of 75 countries, including Nigeria.

US District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the State Department exceeded its legal authority by imposing a blanket restriction on immigrant visa applicants based on their nationality.

The policy, introduced in January, affected applicants from several countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

The affected countries included Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt and Ethiopia, among others.

The Trump administration had justified the suspension by arguing that applicants from the countries were considered more likely to rely on public assistance and government resources after entering the United States.

However, Vargas ruled that federal immigration law did not give the Secretary of State the authority to categorically prevent consular officers from processing immigrant visas based solely on nationality.

The case was brought by immigrant rights organisations, visa applicants and US citizens sponsoring family members from countries covered by the policy.

The ruling is another legal setback for President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which has introduced several measures aimed at restricting immigration and tightening entry into the United States.

The State Department had not immediately commented on the decision.

For Nigerians affected by the suspension, the ruling could restore access to immigrant visa processing, although further legal action by the US government could affect its implementation.